News Comment/COMENTARI AL DIA

Rajoy Pardons Duran’s Corruption/RAJOY INDULTA LA CORRUPCIÓ DE DURAN

Rajoy Pardons Duran’s Corruption

by Josep C. Verges

Knowing smile of shaggy pardoner Rajoy to unpardonable baldie Duran. Below: Politico Duran tried to beat up journalist Gemma Nierga after she had him promise he would resign with proof of corruption. Despite multiple jail terms and two pardons, he hasn’t.

Duran personally confirmed to me his corruption. Duran has taken good care of his own. His right hand Sanchez Llibre, despite his indictment, never went to trial. The trial of his faithful (Fidel) friend from Andorra Fidel Pallerols has not taken place for 12 years. The prison sentence of Ignasi Farreres, president of his party, was revoked because “he did not know what he was signing” as Minister of Employment. The dozen convicted minor fry never went to jail. And now he has negotiated with corruptible PP the pardons of Sanchez Llibre’s brother in law and the general secretary of the Employment Ministry who were not even in jail. It is quite revealing that Duran was the first to demand a law to stop trials of political corruption (Seach Two Corrupt Duran Men Pardoned).

I publicly exposed Duran’s corruption in 1998 without mentioning names: “The leader of a certain party violates minimal ethical standards by pocketing black money which vanishes in the process. Party leaders surround themselves with people without principles who leave honesty aside.” A few days later Duran hurriedly approached me: “I read your article and I did not like it at all you comparing me (with corrupt socialists).” I was left open-mouthed. Nowhere in the article had I written Duran’s name or that of his party, but the details were so exact that Duran remembered them as though I had made the whole world know about his corruption! When I told Fidel Masreal of Radio Barcelona how Duran had betrayed himself, he reminded me that in “All the President’s Men” exactly the same thing happened when one of those involved in Richard Nixon’s corruption identified himself with an article where his name was never mentioned. Corruption starts right at the top with Duran, who is directly tied to eight organizations that received 3 billion in public subsidies, mostly earmarked for the unemployed. The foundation organising his travel, FECEI, received 626 million and is managed by Victor Manuel Lorenzo Acuña, the brother in law of Sanchez Llibre who was pardoned. How laughable that Duran was relentless with socialist corruption: “In Spain many are accused, few are indictment and none punished. People should resign.” Resignation is precisely what Nierga Gemma wanted to know in Radio Barcelona. Duran countered that if a single euro was found to have been diverted he would be answearable. But first it had to be proven. He then went into a convoluted explanation full of lame excuses, mentioning how hurt he felt with one individual. “You mean Mr. Verges?” Gemma Nierga asked. “I refuse to speak about this man- he cried in a rage- because he has no official position and no proof!” Gemma Nierga: “Mr. Duran please don’t get up from your chair and threaten me waving your arms!” The dozen unappealable criminal convictions and two pardons confirm all this corruption. Now Duran must resign as he promised and as he demanded of the corrupt socialists.